Sound moderators to be freed from licensing red tape

The Government has announced that sound moderators will be removed from firearms licensing controls, following years of lobbying and over 19,000 consultation responses from the shooting community.
Dame Diana Johnson MP confirmed the decision in a written ministerial statement, acknowledging that the current system creates unnecessary burdens for certificate holders and overstretched police licensing departments. The move validates sustained campaigning by BASC and other shooting organisations who argued that treating “a metal tube containing baffles” as a firearm lacked practical justification.

Lobbying Efforts Welcomed by Shooting Community

Christopher Graffius from BASC welcomed the announcement: “This comes off the back of years of lobbying work, and we are glad the Government has listened to the reasoned arguments put forward.”

Easing the Burden on Police Firearms Departments

The changes will eliminate the variation procedure entirely, ending weeks of waiting for police approval to purchase what is essentially hearing protection equipment. According to BASC’s Bill Harriman, the reform will “reduce the police’s workload in licensing firearms by 32%,” time that could be better spent processing certificate applications, where many forces face significant backlogs.

What Do the Changes Mean for Shooters?

For shooters, the move should improve both availability and pricing. Without dealers navigating variation paperwork for every sale, greater choice and competition in the moderator market are expected. With an estimated 200,000 moderators held legally across Great Britain, the current administrative burden has been substantial and largely without purpose.

New Possession Offence Raises Questions

However, complete deregulation is not planned. The Government proposes making it an offence to possess a sound moderator without holding a firearms certificate. The Countryside Alliance has questioned this addition, suggesting moderators would effectively “be treated like shotgun ammunition.”
Harriman expressed concern, stating BASC would “seek clarity on the meaning” to ensure this doesn’t become “licensing by the back door.”

The Road Ahead: Legislation and Timelines

The changes require primary legislation, and no firm timeline has been established. Parliamentary time remains competitive, and shooting matters rarely take priority, meaning relief for overwhelmed licensing departments remains some way off.
Despite the strings attached, this represents meaningful progress after decades of what many considered disproportionate regulation. The shooting community will welcome the advance while maintaining careful scrutiny of how legislative details develop. Until primary legislation passes, existing licensing requirements for sound moderators remain in place.